Rotating kite



April 23, 1963 J. J. LUBASH ROTATING KITEI Filed March 19, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

/OHA/ J. LUBASH A TTO/QA/E V April 23, 1963 J. J. LUBASH ROTATING KITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1962 H R V, m E m0 N r ML W 4 J. w E x 4 N v .w 4 H A M a w w w M B M M a Q F7710 F/glj United States Patent 3,036,738 ROTATING KITE John .I. Lubash, Gary, Ind., assignor of one-fifth to Ioseph J. Liszczak, one-fifth to Raymond Preston, one-fifth to Albert Shultz, and one-fifth to Sav Yover, all of Lake County, Ind.

Fiied Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,646 6 Claims. (Cl. 244-153) This invention relates in general to aerial devices for amusement and more particularly to a rotating kite which is maneuverable in flight.

An object of my invention is to provide a kite which is not only sustained in the air by air movement but is also made to rotate thereby.

Another object of my invention is to provide a kite which may be easily made to perform a variety of aerial maneuvers.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a kite having component parts which may be economically manufactured in the form of a kit for assembly thereof with tools and materials ordinarily possessed by the average householder.

A further object of my invention is to provide a kite having the configuration and motion of a flying saucer.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from a careful study of the following detailed description taken together with the drawing which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the present invention shown in flight; the connecting strings therefor being broken to show the control stick,

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the present invention as it would appear by viewing FIGURE 1 from the front side or from left to right,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of this invention as it would appear by viewing FIGURE 1 from a position directly overhead,

FIGURE 4 is a plan elevation of the frame structure of this invention,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the frame structure taken along line 55 of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the frame structure taken along line 66 of FIGURE 1 without the covering,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the frame structure taken along line 77 of FIGURE 1 without the covering,

FIGURE 8 is a detail sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 4 showing a wind vane of the frame structure,

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation of a control stick showing the spools of string associated therewith,

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of the control stick showing the component parts thereof positioned to allow the kite holding strings free movement therethrough, and

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation of the control stick showing the component parts thereof positioned to prevent the kite holding strings from moving therethrough.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates generally the kite of my invention. It comprises a circular frame structure 12 rotatably mounted on a slender, elongated support rod 14. Circular frame structure 12 is constructed from rigid, light weight material such as balsa wood. Its construction comprehends parts connected together by means of cement. With reference to the figures, the circular frame structure 12 (FIGURES 4 to 8) comprises a quill 16 having a shaft hole 18 longitudinally therethrough. Laterally extending from opposed ends 20 and 22 of said quill 16 and radially arranged therearound are stringers 26 and 28 respectively. Laterally spaced stringers '26 and 28 are laterally aligned and are connected at their distal ends by ribs 30 (FIG- URE 5). Ribs 31 may be shaped to provide any desirable contour to the peripheral rim portion or side 32 (FIGURE 3) of frame structure 12. Bracing means 33 (FIGURE 6) connect stringers 28 adjacent the distal ends thereof and serve to impart rigidity to the frame structure and provide support for divided stringers 34. Stringers 34 are divided so that radial parts 36 thereof connecting the quill 16 connect the bracing means 33 at an angular displacement relative to the distal parts 38 of stringers 34. The angular displacement of the each radial part 36 is in the same direction, that is either clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The distal parts 38 of stringers 34 carries ribs 40 which have the same rib shape or configuration as ribs 30. Connecting the top ends of ribs 40 and end 20 of quill 16 are stringers 44 which angularly displaced relative to radial parts 36 and laterally aligned with distal part 38 of stringers 34.

Connecting the distal ends of stringers 28 and 34 is a thin, stiff wire loop 46. A second and third thin, stiff wire loop 48 and 50, respectively, encircle the ribs 30 and 40 and connect therewith at spaced points for supporting the upstanding ribs 30 and 40 and also to provide support between the ribs for covering 52 (FIGURE 3). The ends of wire loops 46, 48 and 50 may be conveniently held together by impaling their respective ends in the opposite ends of small blocks 3 of balsa wood as shown at 54 in FIGURE 7. Of course, the ends of the Wire loops may be satisfactorily connected together in any convenient manner such as by splicing or by soldering.

The covering 52 for the frame structure 12 may include any thin, light weight membrane such as paper tissue for the purpose of providing an airfoil surface. Paper tissue is conventionally used for kites, therefore, the covering comprehended for purposes of this description will be paper tissue. The paper tissue covering 52 is adhered to and covers the bottom planular side 56 of the frame structure 12 and the peripheral rim portion or side 32 comprising the edges of upstanding ribs 30 and 40 and wire loops 46, 48 and 50. Rectangular paper tissue van-es 58 (FIGURES 5 and 8) tautly connect the radial parts 36 of stringers 34 and stringers 44. Openings 69 (FIGURE 2) are provided in the airfoil surface or paper tissue covering the bottom side 56 of the frame structure 12 along the radial parts 36 of stringers 34 so that the vanes 58, being slanted in the way of the air movement therethrough, are subjected to a counterclockwise component force, as viewed in FIGURE 4, to cause rotation of the frame structure 12 about its axis.

Circular frame structure 12 is rotatably mounted on support rod 14 (FIGURES 1-3) which is inserted through hole 18 of quill 16. Frame structure 12 is axial-1y retained in position on rod 14 by means of collars 62 and 64 fixed thereto. Support rod 14 comprises a slender, elongated rod including a shaft portion 66 on which are rotatably mounted and fixed thereon circular frame 12 and spaced retainer collars 62 and 64, respectively, a tail portion or end 68 slightly angulated with respect to the shaft portion 66 and a mast portion or end 70 radically offset from the shaft portion 66 and approximately paral lel with the tail end 68. Stabilizing vanes 72 and 74 are provided on the tail end 68 and mast end '70, respectively, of the support rod 14. A slender, elongated cross-bar 76 integrally connects at its mid-point to the top end of the mast end 79 and is orientated transversely thereto and to the direction of the offset as above described.

The ends of said cross-bar 76 overhangs the frame structure 12 and are adapted for connection with strings 78 and 80 (FIGURES 1-3). The end of tail portion 68 is adapted for connection with a third string 82. The other ends of strings 78, 80 and 82 are fastened to the extremities of control stick 84 which has the general form of a "it fprefer to provide a control stick 84 which will easily-allow strings 78, St} and 32 to be played out so that my kite may be borne aloft to difierent altitudes. A preferred embodiment thereof is shown in FIGURES 9-11. Said control stick 84 is T-shaped having a handle portion 86 and cross-bar 90. It comprises congruent parts 84a and 84b superposable so as to be coincident throughout. Said strings 78, 8t) and 82 may freely pass through aligned holes 2 94 and 38 until kite 16 reaches the desired altitude. At this time, part 84a is manually slid over part 845 to place holes 92, 94 and 88 out of alignment and thereby Wedge strings 78, 80' and 82 there between to fix the altitude of said kite 10.

The kite may be manuevered by pulling one or a combination of strings 78, 30 and 82 either by manipulating the control stick 84 or by manually pulling on one or more of the strings. For example, if control stick 84 is moved so that cord 86 is pulled (FIGURES l and 2), kite 1 will be tilted and will revolve around the holder of the control stick 84. If string 78 is pulled, then the revolution will be in the other direction. If end 82 is played out, kite 10 will tend to float downward or lose altitude and if cord 82 is pulled back, the kite will gain altitude. A variety of maneuvers may be accomplished by manipulating one or a combination of the strings.

It will be appreciated that applicant has provided a novel aerial device in the nature of a kite and which may be held aloft and there made to rotate and by manipulating the connecting strings may be made to perform various maneuvers. Further, applicants kite is a simple and sturdy structure which is easy to construct by an average person without special tools.

While the preferred embodiment of this invention is shown herein, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made in light of the foregoing disclosure. It is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof this invention.

' I claim:

l. A rotatable kite for being supported in the wind comprising;

a slender, elongated shaft;

a light, discoid member rotatably mounted on said shaft; v

a rod being fixed to one end of said shaft, the opposed ends of said rod overhanging said discoid member;

said discoid member having an airfoil surface;

vane means on said discoid member for impingement thereagainst by said Wind; and;

the other end of said shaft and said opposed ends of said rod being adapted for connecting thereto string means for holding said kite in said wind.

2. The rotatable kite in claim t1 characterized by said discoid member having at least one opening for the passage of wind through said member and said vane means Within said airfoil surface are aligned with said opening for impingement thereagainst by said wind.

3. A rotatable kite for being supported in the Wind comprising;

a slender rod comprising a tail end, a mast end and a shaft portion disposed therebetween;

a light circular frame rotatably mounted on said shaft portion of said slender rod;

a transverse rod being fixed to the mast end of said slender rod, the opposed ends of said transverse rod overhanging said circular frame;

said circular frame comprises spaced planular sides and a peripheral side;

said circular frame having a covering to provide an airfoil surface on one of said planular sides and said peripheral side;

said airfoil surface of said planular sidehaving at least one opening for the passage of wind therethrough;

vane means in said circular frame over said opening for impingement thereagainst by said. wind;

stabilizing vane means on. said tail end and said mast end of said slender rod; and

said tail end of said rod and said opposed ends of said transverse rod being adapted for connecting thereto string means for holding said kite in said Wind.

4. The kite of claim 3 wherein said circular frame comprises;

a quill to journal on said shaft portion of said slender rod;

a plurality of laterally spaced, radially extending stringers connecting said quill at their convergent ends;

a plurality of rib members connecting the divergent distal ends of said spaced stringers; and

means for circumligating. said divergent distal ends. of

said stringers and said rib members.

5. A rotatable kite for being supported in the .wind

comprising;

a slender rod comprising a tailend, a mast end and a shaft portion disposed therebetween;

a light circular frame rotatably mounted on said shaft portion of said slender rod;

a transverse rod being fixed to the mast end of said slender rod, the opposed ends of said transverse rod overhanging said circular frame;

said circular frame comprising a quill to journal on said shaft portion of said slender rod;

laterally spaced, radially extending, plurality of stringers connecting said quill at their convergent ends;

a plurality of ribs connecting said spaced stringers at their divergent distal ends; 7

bracing means connecting said stringers of one of said laterally spaced plurality of stringers;

a plurality of radially extending stringer parts connecting said quill at their convergent ends and cennecn ing said bracing means at their distal ends;

a plurality of radially extending second stringer parts connecting said bracing means at their convergent ends, said second stringer parts being angularly displaced relative to said first mentioned stringer parts connecting said quill;

a plurality of radially extending second stringers connecting said quill at their convergent ends, said second stringers'being laterally spaced fromsa'id second stringer parts and laterally aligned therewith, said second stringers being laterally spaced and angularly displaced relative to said first mentioned stringer parts;

a plurality of second ribs connecting said laterally spaced second stringers and said second stringer parts;

circumligating means connecting the distal ends of said second stringer parts and said first mentioned stringers of said one of said laterally spaced plurality of stringers, and said first mentioned ribs and said second ribs at spaced points;

a tissue material covering for said first mentioned and second stringer parts, said bracing means, said circumligating means, and said ribs to provide an airfoil surface;

said airfoil surface having a plurality of openings ad.-

jacent said first mentioned stringer parts; and

vane means connecting said first mentioned stringer parts and said second stringers which are angularl-y displaced therefrom whereby said vane means are leaning over said openings, for impingement thereagainst by said wind.

6. The combination of the kite of claim 5 which is further characterized by said tail end and the opposed ends of said transverse rod being adapted for connecting thereto string means; of

a handle having a cross-bar;

the extremities of said handle and cross-bar having said openings in the extremities of said handle and apertures for passing therethrough said string means; cross-bar being selectively in or out of alignment a second handle having a cross-bar; whereby said string means may freely pass therethe extremities of said second handle and cross-bar through or secured therebetween.

having apertures for passing therethrough said string 5 means; References Cited in the file of this patent one of said handles having a slotted opening; the other of said handles having a stud connecting said UNITED STATES PATENTS one of said handles and slidably movable in said 2,793,829 Bnmmfield May 28, 1957 slotted opening; and 0 2,835,462 Martin May 20, 1958 

1. A ROTATABLE KITE FOR BEING SUPPORTED IN THE WIND COMPRISING; A SLENDER, ELONGATED SHAFT; A LIGHT, DISCOID MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT; A ROD BEING FIXED TO ONE END OF SAID SHAFT, THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID ROD OVERHANGING SAID DISCOID MEMBER; SAID DISCOID MEMBER HAVING AN AIRFOIL SURFACE; 